Memories of a Bear Hunter 



one hundred Bannock scouts reported as having 

 deserted General Howard. On the summit we 

 expected to strike the trail where they would prob- 

 ably have passed if in this part of the Park. 



On the summit of the range we crossed this 

 trail and were gratified to find no sign of anything 

 passing after that made by Colonel Gilbert's cav- 

 alry in its effort to overtake General Howard's 

 command. 



We descended into the valley of the East Fork 

 of Fire Hole River now named Nez Perce Creek 

 by the wagon road cut out by Howard's com- 

 mand, and were soon out of the snow; for the 

 valley of Fire Hole is nearly one thousand feet 

 lower than the Yellowstone River above the falls. 

 We passed near the scene of the massacre of a 

 portion of the Cowan party before alluded to. 

 We also scared up one or two wild Indian ponies, 

 left by the hostiles, that by their speed and activity 

 to avoid the white man, showed no evidence of 

 wishing to be rescued, as had the lone army mule. 

 This was an unpleasant sign. Reaching the lower 

 Fire Hole Basin before noon, we went into camp, 

 and devoted the remainder of the day to visiting 

 various geysers of this wonderful formation, 

 against the advice of Bean, who was for camping 

 that night at the upper geysers ten miles further on. 



73 



